Would you like to help people with learning disabilities to socialise in their local community and make friends? Dates-n-Mates is a friendship and dating agency for adults with learning disabilities. We run lots of social events and activities, helping people to meet others and to build friendships and relationships. As an Events Volunteer, your role is to help our members enjoy socialising in safe and friendly environments. Our events include going to restaurants, pubs, cinema, tenpin bowling, day trips and walks. The events are sociable, great fun and your role is very rewarding. You will initially shadow a volunteer or member of staff to help you get to know everyone and see what is involved. Events take place afternoons and evenings and usually last 2 hours. We ask our volunteers to commit to a minimum of 1 event per month. Dates-n-Mates offer a variety of training and support to our volunteers. We require our volunteers to join the PVG scheme but there is no cost to yourself. All expenses including travel will also be covered. For further information or to apply please contact Raynor McCulloch, Volunteer Co-ordinator at E Mail: volunteering@c-change.org.uk or tel. 07720 591229. Organisation aims and objectives Our work is underpinned by a human rights-based approach. We believe it is people’s right to live life free of discrimination and to develop friendships and relationships of their choosing, to love and be loved. Dates-n-Mates empower our members to live their life to its fullest potential whilst being active citizens within their community.

Seagull Trust Cruises provide free canal cruises for the elderly, infirm, and those with special needs. Founded back in 1978, and operating from 4 Scottish bases, we are wholly run by volunteers, and 100% funded by grants and donations. Our Ratho team are currently looking for a Team Leader to head up a new small fundraising team, who working with others in the team, can source grant opportunities, liaise with potential funders, prepare quality application forms, and process through to successful completions. Liaison with our Executive Board will be required to ensure a consistency and avoid duplication in applications. You will be an excellent written communicator to identify and apply for trust and corporate grants. You will be researching funding opportunities and writing grant applications for the charity, keeping records on appropriate grant giving bodies, (application closing dates and processes), and reporting back to donors the difference their grant has made. You will also keep in touch with the team at local and executive level about the progress of applications. This is an exciting opportunity to work with one of the most respected charities operating on the Scottish Canal network.

Give the gift of your time and become a volunteer mentor for young people. It could be life changing for you both! Would you like to support a young person on their journey to gaining new skills and experience, becoming more self-confident and achieving their goals? If the answer is yes, we would love to hear from you. Why mentoring? Mentoring is at the heart of what we do here at ProjectScotland and we offer every young person we support, the opportunity to be matched with a volunteer mentor. We are searching for people in Perth and Kinross who are able to offer one hour of their time once a week or fortnight for up to 12 months to help transform the life of someone else. The young people we work with all face different challenges in their lives such as; mental ill health, long term unemployment, low confidence and self esteem, care experienced, limited English communication skills due to being new to this country or disabilities. As a volunteer mentor, you could support your mentee with whatever is important to them. This could be: goal setting; identifying interests and strengths; confidence building; helping to establish a routine; support to explore job, training and further education opportunities; social connections; or just someone consistent to talk to and check in with to see how they are. The support you can offer is invaluable and can be life changing. How does it work? • Following recruitment, we provide training, support to join the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme, ongoing support, access to lots of resources and a wonderful community of mentors across the country to connect with, learn from and build friendships with. • you are matched to one young person and meet with them once a week or fortnight for around one hour • meetings can be face to face or virtual using email/telephone/video chat/WhatsApp. There is also an opportunity to do a mixture of the two which offers a flexible and accessible approach to this volunteering role in addition to the match itself. •matches can last from 3-12 months depending upon the relationship and the needs of the mentee What’s in it for you? • Help transform your mentee’s life • Develop communication and interpersonal skills e.g. coaching, motivating others, adaptability • Gain transferable skills and experience volunteering with disadvantaged people • Participate in regular support and training • Meet new people, connect and have fun! • Learn about yourself and gain a sense of achievement supporting others • Learn more about your community and the challenges that people can face If you are interested in this opportunity please email: louise.walker@volunteeringmatters.org.uk We would love to hear from you! More info about ProjectScotland: ProjectScotland (now part of the Volunteering Matters Family of Brands) works with people (predominantly young people) across the country who are struggling to overcome challenges such as social isolation, mental health issues, low confidence and general uncertainty about their futures. By providing wrap around support and the chance to complete a voluntary placement with a local charity; not only can this enhance confidence and self-belief, but it gives that individual the opportunity to build on their skills and experience and potentially move on to a job, further education or training. Everyone we work with is also offered a volunteer mentor.

Seagull Trust Cruises provide free canal cruises for the elderly, infirm, and those with special needs. Founded back in 1978, and operating from 4 Scottish bases, we are wholly run by volunteers, and 100% funded by grants and donations. Our Ratho team are currently looking for a fundraising coordinator, who working with others in the team, can source grant opportunities, liaise with potential funders, prepare quality application forms, and process through to successful completions. Liaison with our Executive Board will be required to ensure a consistency and avoid duplication in applications. You will be an excellent written communicator to identify and apply for trust and corporate grants. You will be researching funding opportunities and writing grant applications for the charity, keeping records on appropriate grant giving bodies, (application closing dates and processes), and reporting back to donors the difference their grant has made. You will also keep in touch with the team at local and executive level about the progress of applications. This is an exciting opportunity to work with one of the most respected charities operating on the Scottish Canal network.